I've only seen that create a failure point, if the load was already close to the wire rating. Personally, I use my pocket knife. But, I've had 37 years of experience.Pretty Easy to get a good Wire Stripper for 10 AWG and thinner, thicker becomes more of an art. I bought the Jokari listed in Will’s link, but that did not work for me. I found a regular box cutter much more effective. There are tools available for thicker wire but they get expensive quick. Someone told me they used pruning shears or thicker wire. I hope they were kidding.
I like the less stand thicker wire strands if I can use it. I use 7 strand for my solar panels and this never gets cut. FOr the thinner stuff like the 4/0 welding wire, that takes a bit of getting used to, but eventually I got to where I could “feel” the inside cardboard sheath.
I think with what you pictured “Derating by 5%” is fair. I don’t see how it could break over time on a normal installation unless it is on area that vibrates frequently like on a roof driving down the road at 70 MPH with 30 MPH head winds. If someone has had wires as in the picture break, I’d like to hear that.
I do the same thing out here on ships. Just score the insulation then fold the wire over. The score will stretch out and you can just drag the knife blade across the stretch. DON'T push, just use the weight of the knife to do the drag. The insulation will continue to stretch as you get deeper. Eventually the insulation will get thin enough that it will split on its own and you can bull it off without damaging the wires.Personally, I use my pocket knife. But, I've had 37 years of experience.
That's exactly how I do it.I do the same thing out here on ships. Just score the insulation then fold the wire over. The score will stretch out and you can just drag the knife blade across the stretch. DON'T push, just use the weight of the knife to do the drag. The insulation will continue to stretch as you get deeper. Eventually the insulation will get thin enough that it will split on its own and you can bull it off without damaging the wires.
Hilarious but not surprising.In 1989 I worked as an electrician on one of the launch pads at the cape. The guys that terminated wires into the connectors had to go to a school to become qualified to strip the wires. The strippers they used approached the cable from the end. Those guys would sit in a folding metal chair all day long and as I recall, terminate one or two cables a day.
One of my mechanic friends uses a lighter as a stripping tool on little stuff like 16-18 gauge. It works but doing it without gloves takes practice.In my previous work, to avoid nicking the wire strands, we used thermal wire strippers on teflon insulated wires. And we also used a fan to avoid inhaling the fumes.